Nasal Packing Following Endoscopic Endonasal Pituitary Resection

NCT ID: NCT03677713

Last Updated: 2024-12-13

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-01-20

Study Completion Date

2024-04-24

Brief Summary

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There is considerable controversy about the use of nasal packing following endoscopic endonasal resection of pituitary tumors as a necessary treatment amongst Rhinology-Skull Base Surgeons. The justification for the routine use of nasal packing following pituitary surgery is not clear as this practice is not used for equally extensive sinus surgery. Further scientific evidence supporting this practice is lacking, and a recent survey of Canadian surgeons performing this surgery demonstrates clear division in practice for the routine use of nasal packing. Nasal packing causes patients significant discomfort requiring medication, and the use of packing adds direct and unintended hospitalization and health system costs for every case for which it is used. The benefits, short-comings, and associated costs of nasal packing following endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary resection have not been studied.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if nasal packing following endoscopic endonasal pituitary tumor surgery is a necessary treatment. The principal research questions for this study, our internal pilot of the RCT, pertain to feasibility of enrolment of patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary tumor surgery using the full RCT protocol of nasal packing versus no nasal packing. The pilot will address feasibility of site-specific enrolment and feasibility of institutional ethics approval and protocol administration.

Detailed Description

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BACKGROUND AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Over the past decade, the surgical method for removing pituitary tumors has shifted from a microscopic resection technique performed exclusively by a neurosurgeon, to an endoscopic resection done as a team with an otolaryngologist and neurosurgeon. This field continues to evolve given this recent shift in treatment technique.

Nasal packing has historically been a post-operative intervention of treating the nose employed by otolaryngologists for any nasal surgery they performed. However, with the advent of endoscopic sinus surgery and changes in surgical technique, the use of nasal packing has become less common. A systematic review by Quinn et. Al (2013) showed that nasal packing caused more patient discomfort than any other post-septoplasty maneuver and did not prevent complications of septoplasty, but could contribute to adverse events following septoplasty. In North America, nasal packing is no longer commonly used after septoplasty.

However, following the endoscopic resection of pituitary tumors, the practice of nasal packing is still widely employed. The reasoning for placement of nasal packing following surgery is not clear, just as it was not for its use following septoplasty. A thorough search of the literature did not identify any publications providing justification for the use of nasal packing. Published recommendations to reduce incidence of post-operative nasal complications after transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection include use of specific nasal medications (intranasal corticosteroids) and regular nasal saline irrigation (in patients without cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea) to clear nasal mucosal hyperemia edema and secretions, as well as to prevent nasal synechiae and scarring, to maintain the sinus cavity drainage, and accelerate the recovery of the physiological function of the paranasal sinus. However, an evidence based recommendation in support or against routine nasal packing has not been made. A review from neurosurgical literature on perioperative management post transsphenoidal pituitary resection reports the majority of patients do not require insertion of nasal packing at the time of surgery, some patients (intraoperative Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leaks requiring sellar floor reconstruction, Cushing's Disease, and acromegaly) may benefit from their insertion, and if used packing is typically removed postoperative day 1.

In January 2018 an informal email survey of Canadian Otolaryngologists who routinely perform endoscopic pituitary surgery with a neurosurgeon (total of 7 respondents out of 11 surgeons, 64% response rate) demonstrated that 5 of 7 use nasal packing following the procedure; 2 of 7 do not. Packing is usually left in place for 48 hours when used. A screening of institution websites (February 12, 2018) in North America where this surgery is routinely performed found a balanced number of institutions that list the use or non-use of nasal packing following endoscopic pituitary tumor resection (13 institutional websites screened, 8 institutions routinely use nasal packing, 5 do not). There is clinical equipoise related to the use of nasal packing. An objective study assessing the utility of nasal packing following endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery has not yet been completed.

This study seeks to answer the question, "Is routine nasal packing following endoscopic pituitary tumor surgery a necessary treatment?". The results of this trial have the potential to standardize practice patterns in Canada and internationally, and will inform evidence based practice while directly impacting the quality of care delivered to patients undergoing pituitary tumor resection.

HYPOTHESIS

Nasal packing following routine endoscopic pituitary tumor surgery is an unnecessary intervention that may cause patients unjustified post-operative discomfort, negatively affect their quality of life, and unnecessarily increase associated cost of care.

Conditions

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Pituitary Tumor

Keywords

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endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgical resection pituitary tumour nasal packing Merocel

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

A single center, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted as a pilot study.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Nasal Packing

Nasal packing will be placed at the end of surgery.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Nasal Packing

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Patients will have nasal packing at the end of the surgery

No Nasal Packing

No nasal packing will be placed during or after the surgery.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

No nasal packing.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

No nasal packing at the end of the surgery

Interventions

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No nasal packing.

No nasal packing at the end of the surgery

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Nasal Packing

Patients will have nasal packing at the end of the surgery

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 18 years of age or older
* undergoing endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach to pituitary resection for pituitary tumors of any pathology for the first time

Exclusion Criteria

* patients who do not have a working understanding of English
* patients with known allergy to Merocel nasal packing
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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The Physicians' Services Incorporated Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The Ottawa Hospital Academic Medical Association

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Shaun Kilty

MD, FRCSC

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Shaun Kilty, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The Ottawa Hospital

Locations

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The Ottawa Hospital

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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Canada

Other Identifiers

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20180541-01H

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id